Broncos Down UC Riverside in Rain-Shortened Game

Friday, February 15

Los Angeles, Calif.

3 p.m. MT

Boise State

3-2

UC Riverside

3-4

Boise State

UC Riverside

Softball vs Fresno State, Spring, Jessica Vargas Photo

Photo by: Boise State University

2/15/2019 6:59:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Boise State gets 7-2 win after game was called at the end of five innings

By: Nate Lowery

WESTWOOD, Calif. – A six-run inning in the top of the fifth inning propelled the Boise State softball team to a 7-2 win over UC Riverside, Friday at Easton Stadium. Due to heavy rain making the field unplayable, the game went into a rain delay prior to the Broncos stepping to the plate for the top of the sixth inning. Because each team had the opportunity to play five full innings, the game was called, giving the Blue and Orange the tournament-opening victory.

Boise State's (3-2) game against UCLA, to be played Friday night, was also cancelled.

"It was nice to get the bats going today," head coach Maggie Livreri said. We were aggressive attacking the ball on defense, and it was a great win for the team."

The Broncos trailed UC Riverside (3-4) 2-1 entering the top of the fifth inning. Batting in the nine spot, Justene Molina got hit by a pitch to get on first. Kora Wade put down a bunt in the next at-bat, and both her and Molina beat out the throw to put two runners on base with no outs in the inning.

Bradie Fillmore loaded the bases with one out on another hit-by-pitch, setting the stage for senior Rebekah Cervantes to break the game open. Cervantes sent a shot that bounced off the wall for a bases-clearing double, batting in three runs for the 4-2 lead.

Cervantes score three batters later on a two RBI home run from Alison Seng into centerfield. The run gave Cervantes 136 for her career, moving her ahead of Tara Glover (2012-14) for sole possession on the school record book for runs in a career.

With that run, @_rebekahlynn has set the Boise State record for runs in a career with 136. She passes Tara Glover (2012-14) on the program record book! 💪#BleedBlue pic.twitter.com/tWuyAwSIXB
— Boise State Softball (@BroncoSportsSB) February 15, 2019

Seng's home run gave the Broncos a 7-2 lead over UC Riverside. With the lead, Boise State brought on Rainey Dyreson in the circle for relief.

Dyreson gave up a leadoff single to Danielle Ortega in the bottom of the inning. Ortega was able to advance to second on a wild pitch during the next at-bat. Dyreson retired that batter with a swinging strikeout on an 0-2 count, but walked the next batter.

The senior's experience shone brightly the remainder of the inning, fanning the next two batters for three strikeouts in only an inning of relief before the game the game was eventually called.

B5 | With runners on first and second, Dyreson gets her second strikeout of the inning! This time on a full count! #BleedBlue pic.twitter.com/RvtVSGlqaQ
— Boise State Softball (@BroncoSportsSB) February 15, 2019

Gianna Mancha got the win to improve to 1-1 on the season. The sophomore started the game, pitching a solid 4.0 innings, striking out three. The Broncos got a solid outing from their duo in the circle, recording a combined to have six strikeouts to only two walks

Boise State out-hit the Highlanders, 8-6, and got seven RBIs on the day. The two home runs were a single-game high on the season for the Broncos. It was also the first multi-home run game for the team since Boise State beat New Mexico on the final day of regular season (May 12).